Coachella fest offers ticket lay-a-way

With the economy in the crapper and unemployment at a 16-year high and climbing, Coachella promoter Goldenvoice fears that cash strapped music fans might forgo three days of music in the desert for stuff like, you know, food and shelter. These desperate times call for desperate measures, and Goldenvoice is apparently desperate enough to offer ticket buyers the until-recently totally obsolete option of layway. So, instead of ponying up the $239 cost of a three-day pass all at once, fans will have the choice of instead paying in smaller installments. Goldenvoice has had success with layaway in the past; the company claims that 24% of concertgoers at the 2007 Stagecoach Country Music Festival took advantage of a similar payment option.

Note that the layaway plan is only available to those who purchase tickets for all three days of the festival. You’ll have to cough up the total amount for $99 single-day tickets.